Welcome To Hank's Ranma ½ Forum
This Month's Topic:
Elements of a Ranma ½ "Formula" Episode
Okay folks, this is my first installment I'm doing for a forum on Ranma ½. I will try to do a new forum every other month, like I've been doing with my Sailor Moon section of my website.
So what do I mean by "formula episode" anyway? Well, any of us who've had math or science courses knows a formula is an equation that you plug in certain variables/constants into in order to get a certain figure. (i.e. the formula for Area of a Rectangle is: Area = length times width.)
A formula episode is one that has certain common elements (variables) that are used to produce an episode of a show or a movie. For example, Tom Cruise has certain elements that make up his "Formula Movies." For example, several of his movies have the following elements:
Tom has to learn a craft (i.e. bartending, racecar driving, flying an F-16)
Tom gets involved with a "superior woman" (i.e. Elizabeth Shue, Nicole Kidman, Kelly McGillis)
Tom has an older guy be his mentor (i.e. The Irish Bartender, the older racecar driver, Paul Newman in the pool hall)
Now, do you have the idea of what a formula episode is? Good! Okay, this web page is NOT about Tom Cruise, but rather it is about Ranma ½!!! So without further ado, here are:
The Elements of a Ranma ½ Formula Episode
Ryoga is lost somewhere. How many episodes can you think of that start off with(or eventually have) Ryoga lost somewhere, looking very confused? He always says "Ahh! Where am I now? Oh Akane, if only you were here, then I would tell you how I really feel!" Suddenly the silence is broken by Akane's cheery voice saying "Hi Ryoga" followed by Ryoga screaming in fear and then asking Akane what she's doing in Yokahama, Hokkaido, Kyoto, etc., when in fact, he's in Furinkhan, lost again! This is one often used story element.
Ranma is pissed off at Genma and chasing him. Whether he's chasing his pop around the dojo, the yard or the neighborhood, this is another element that usually shows up at some point. Genma's usually stolen some of Ranma's food, or set Ranma up for something in return for a big meal. Whatever the case, this chase is always good comic relief!
Shampoo shows up, saying "Hiya" and throwing herself upon Ranma. Ahh, the overwhelming love of Shampoo! "Hiya Ranma! Wo ai ni!" Shampoo will squeal and then grab him tightly in her arms. Of course, Shampoo is not in every episode, but it happens pretty much every time she's there!
Akane whacks Ranma over the head. Ahh, the anger of Akane! And she says she's not jealous? Where does she get all those mallets, maces, sticks and various weapons for whacking Ranma over the head? If all else fails, she uses her elbows. Especially when the previous element happens, she will do this to Ranma, even though he has done nothing to make Shampoo jump his bones!
Happosai steals underwear, yelling "Yippee! Woo-Hoo! Whatta haul! Whatta haul!" Yep, Happosai has just about cornered the market on perversion in Furinkhan. Every time he shows up, you can bet this element will come in to play. Most of the time, it's followed by Ranma bonking him over the head, and a mob of angry girls jumping on him, beating him up with mops and brooms. After which, he gets ticked off with Ranma, acting indignant. "How dare you show such disrespect to your elders! You'll be sorrrrrry!!!" Well, we're not sorry, because that alwaysleads into a really hillarious turn of events!!!
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